160 
CALIFORNIA. 
such small quantities as to be hardly sufficient to supply the wants oi 
the country. 
There are in California only two or three water-mills for grinding 
flour, and these are owned by foreigners. The mills in general use in 
the country, are composed of no more than two burr-stones. To the 
upper stone a cross-beam is secured, to which mule-power is applied. 
In most of the estancias there is to be found a mill in an apartment 
adjoining the kitchen, if not in it. The whole is as primitive as well 
can be, although I have no doubt it answers all the wants of this rude 
and indolent people. 
From all accounts, besides cattle, the country is well adapted for 
the raising of sheep, which simply require watching, as they can find 
plenty of nutritious food the whole year round ; but there has been no 
attention paid to this sort of stock, and the wool is of very ordinary 
quality. The mutton is thought to be of very fine flavour. The usual 
price for a sheep is from one dollar and fifty cents to two dollars, when 
a choice is made for killing. 
Hogs are raised in some parts, and might be fed to great advantage 
on the acorns which are abundant on the hills where the land is not 
susceptible of cultivation. Pork may be packed at three dollars the 
hundred-weight. What adds to the facility of doing this business, is 
the fact that large quantities of salt collect in the ponds in the dry 
season, which may be obtained for the expense of carting it. 
As respects trade, it may be said there is scarcely any, for it is so 
interrupted, and so much under the influence of the governor and the 
officers of the customs, that those attempting to carry on any under the 
forms usual elsewhere, would probably find it a losing business. 
Foreigners, however, contrive to evade this by keeping their vessels at 
anchor, and selling a large portion of their cargoes from on board. 
Great partiality is shown to those of them who have a full understand¬ 
ing with his excellency the governor; and from what I was given to 
understand, if this be not secured, the traders are liable to exactions 
and vexations without number. The enormous duties, often amounting 
to eighty per cent, ad valorem, cause much dissatisfaction on the part 
of the consumers: the whole amount raised is about tw r o hundred 
thousand dollars per annum, which is found barely sufficient to pay the 
salaries of the officers, and defray the costs of the government feasts, 
which are frequent, and usually cost a thousand dollars each. These 
emoluments are shared among the heads of departments at Monterey, 
whilst the soldiers are often for months without their pay, and are 
made to take it in whatever currency it may suit the government to 
give. Besides the above duties, there is a municipal tax on many 
